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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

The Seven Stars, WC2

54 Carey Street
WC2
WC2A 2JB
Phone: 02072428521

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Quinno _ left this review about The Seven Stars

Now this is a special pace, vying for being London’s oldest pub - whilst the frontage may bear the date 1602, the building itself is likely to date from the 1680s. Tucked away off the main drag this is the wig's pub given the location behind the Royal Courts of Justice (indeed, there are some sirrup examples in a glass case). It’s a small, shallow, cosy/cramped and atmospheric little poke over three small rooms. Décor notes; French bistro style green & white tablecloths, wood burner, some antique shop ephemera (eg cinema posters for long forgotten movies) and the loud haaww of public schoolboys who are now employed by the nearby chambers. Three cask; I had a fair half of Broadside (NBSS 3) imbibed in a laid-back atmosphere - the barman excepted who seemed harassed (by having to serve, by the looks of it) and grumpy, a common theme from other reviews around the web. I’d make an effort to get back here again – though seating is very much at a premium so timing is key. GBG24 listed.

On 16th December 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


Delboy 20 left this review about The Seven Stars

The Seven Stars was my main reason for visiting London as it is supposedly the oldest London pub. It is small and quirky pub with an eccentric landlady and resident cat. Plenty of interesting items on the walls and an interesting menu. The stairs up to the toilet are not for the faint hearted!
3 beers on when I called and my Ghost Ship was fine. Glad to have finally visited and I'd happily call again.

On 19th June 2023 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 1650 recommendations about 1552 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The Seven Stars

A well regarded pub tucked away in a quiet square behind the Royal Courts of Justice, it’s not somewhere you’re likely to stumble across by accident but is nonetheless just a short stroll from The Strand.

Internally it’s quite compact, and although split in to three rooms, none have much depth to them. The largest room in the middle had the bar counter taking up about half the available floor space, leaving only room for vertical drinking with shelving in front of the windows to rest your pint on. Small tables and chairs were in the rooms either side, but space is certainly at a premium here too, and a number of punters were stood at the tall tables on the pavement outside on our visit. Décor wise it has something of a 60’s feel to it perhaps, with some sort of old wooden boards on the floor and a very vibrant shade of pink paint covering much of the walls and ceiling, with the room to the left suffering from an even more vibrant purple. Various spiles of old books were dotted around and there were also some old theatre posters on the walls as well as a brewery mirror or two. All the tables were laid up with chequered plastic tablecloths which would surely be more appropriate in a greasy spoon than a pub and I really didn’t like sitting at them. The pub cat brought in a mouse while we were there and retreated under one if the tables to chomp away on it. Punters were an eclectic mix and the landlady seemed to be a bit of a character as well, although the barman who served us seemed pretty clueless and clearly had never heard of Noilly Prat.

Beers on tap were Dark Star Hophead, Adnams Ghost Ship and Adnams Broadside with a further two pumps appearing unused. The solitary cider was Adnams Wild Wave which went down well. Overall, I was a bit disappointed by this, but then perhaps I had high expectations having heard so much about it. Worth popping in if you’re passing, but it’s not somewhere I’d make a point of seeking out again.

On 25th May 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


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Thuck Phat left this review about The Seven Stars

The Seven Stars hasn't changed a bit since I first visited some thirty years previously. Some may call it shabby but for me it sits just the right side of comfortably traditional.
I was greeted by a friendly, Irish barmaid, barrister cat with his Judge's collar and a log effect gas fire. Perfect on a chilly day.
The food board offers an interesting range and if you're feeling athletic enough to climb the stairs to the loo you'll catch a glimpse of them being cooked. I didn't eat but everything produced from the dumb waiter behind the bar looked and smelt delicious.
Beers on were Adnams Ghost Ship and Broadside, Harveys Sussex Best, Whitstable Native Bitter and Sharps Coaster. The Ghost Ship was in decent shape without being the very best I've had but that's a more interesting range than I remember from previously.
A top boozer and I'd hope that it remains unchanged for the next 30 years - at least.

On 22nd January 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]


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Will Larter left this review about The Seven Stars

An iconic back street local in an interesting part of town. As BF says below, it's a quirky establishment. The cat was occupying a seat at my table, but we agreed to ignore each other. The pub has a good feel to it, being a little scruffy but clearly well-loved. Tables are all covered in chequered oilcloth, woodwork and paint are a little the worse for wear, and the carpet has seen better days - but on the other hand, would the pub be any better for a new carpet? Perhaps they could get hold of one second hand. There were five hand pumps on the bar - see photos for the beer offering. Toilets are upstairs, but these are steep and twisty; hope that doesn't put anyone off going.

Date of visit: 21st November 2017

On 10th January 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3699 recommendations about 3440 pubs]


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Bucking Fastard left this review about The Seven Stars

A wonderfully old school pub ,unchanged since I worked in the area in the previous millenium.The interior is small,with a traditional bar and two wings either side,with check patterned table cloths ,wood panelling and a fine selection of old brewery mirrors.The descent from the upstairs unisex loo is as perilous as I recall,and the cooking by landlady Roxy Beaujolais is terrific. There is a chalk board with about 10 dishes available,all freshly prepared and a treat.
The new cat is less assertive but I wasn't going to argue with it while it was decked out with a choristers collar,and the ale selection from 5 handpumps was also quite traditional ,namely Adnams Southwold Bitter and Broadside,Sambrooks Session,Harvey's Sussex Best and Whitstable Kentish Reserve (absolute top form).
You dont truly know London pubs unless you have visited this quirky establishment,popular with the legal profession ,it's still a joy to behold.

On 18th June 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


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Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Seven Stars

Not been into this historic inn in a back street behind the law courts for over six years, but very glad to see that it hasn't changed. Small bar located in the centre of the building, with seating in distinctly compact rooms (little more than snugs, really) at each each. However, if the weather is any good then most of the customers can be found standing outside the front. Plainly furnished but plenty of memorabilia on the walls. Efficient (if not exactly cheerful) service. Adnams Broadside, Dark Star Hophead, Cornish Coaster, Old Speckled Hen and Harvey's IPA (£4.10) available from the five handpumps on this visit. Worth seeking out if in the area.

On 5th March 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


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hondo . left this review about The Seven Stars

Small old pub with a central bar and rooms either side. It's compact and bijou so I was happy to catch it mid afternoon a great contrast to the nearby spoons & fuller's. 5 real ales and food served.

On 25th November 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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custodian 42 left this review about The Seven Stars

Nobody in the General Counter today, just the side rooms. Adnams Broadside at the bar, which tasted good. Can imagine this place absolutely rammed later on, so my three o'clock call was well timed. A nice pub.

On 19th October 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


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Tris C left this review about Seven Stars

Dating back to 1602, though probably rebuilt in the 1680s, this is a fantastic old little pub and one of my favourites for over 20-odd years. I can't add much to that below: The pub is presided over by the robustly constructed no-nonsense Roxy Beaujolais (née Jean Hoffmann) with her neon-pink hair and sidekick Ray Brown, a black and white replacement for the inscrutable Tom Paine who died in 2011.

Indeed the pub can get cramped and the staircase is extremely precipitous, becoming more so the closer you get to closing time. The food is very good indeed (as are the Bloody Mary's) and is prepared in a tiny student kitchen next to the gent's loo, which in turn is next to the office. The pub is populated largely by lawyers and the occasional tourist. The staff are generally efficient rather than effusive and the beer is always well kept; the pub would appear to be a free house - it's no longer owned by Fuller's. A word of warning: the bowl on the bar which would appear to contain bar snacks is in fact Ray Brown's dinner.

This pub is very much worth a detour and is a must-visit if in the area.

On 30th May 2015 - rating: 9
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]

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